ZIM vs PAK 2024/25, ZIM vs PAK 3rd ODI Match Report, November 28, 2024

Pakistan 303 for 6 wickets (Ghulam 103, Shafiq 50, Raza 2-47) defeated zimbabwe 204 (Ervine 51, Bennett 37, Ayub 2-29) by 99 runs

Kamran GhulamHis maiden ODI century and brilliant bowling performance helped Pakistan win comfortably by 99 runs in Bulawayo. With this win, Pakistan won the series 2-1, their second consecutive ODI series win after a similar success in Australia earlier this month.

Pakistan scored 303 runs after a solid start by the openers. Abdullah Shafiq Scored his fifth half-century, while Zimbabwe’s carelessness in the death overs allowed Pakistan to score 69 runs in the last five overs. In response, there was limited concrete resistance except for one craig ervin Half a century later, and with no one able to make any headway, Pakistan continued to consolidate their position until the target became unbeaten, with the innings ending in 40.1 overs.

Although rain was predicted today, the sky was clear when Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat. Although they were unable to maintain the lightning pace set on Tuesday, Saim Ayub and Shafiq gave Pakistan a flying start and stitched a 50-run partnership in 11 overs. But Ayub fell soon after missing his trademark shot as he lifted Faisal Akram at deep backward square leg and delivered it straight to Clive Madande at the boundary.

Ghulam was uncertain at the start, almost hitting a four to Sean Williams on his eighth ball. However, when Williams pulled one down in the next over, Ghulam lofted it over deep midwicket for six, and that freed him. Along with Shafiq, he helped Pakistan hold on to the unexpected pace, and passed 100 in 22 overs. However, Sikandar Raza soon broke that stand, and just after his half-century, trapped Shafiq in front as he missed his sweep.

Rizwan and Ghulam together put up the highest partnership of the innings, but despite the conditions being favorable for batting, the scoring rate did not increase as expected. Notably, Rizwan scored runs from his first 25 balls at a strike rate of over 50, forcing Ghulam to move through the gears. He took a liking to Brian Bennett, forcing him out of the attack after taking 27 runs from his two overs. Zimbabwe again took over the visitors with Williams and Akram before Raza gave his team the breakthrough. Rizwan had him bowled over long-on for six on a miscue, and when he tried again on the next ball, Dion Myers took a simple catch.

Ghulam, till now, was working with three digits. Akram was sent to successive boundaries before Raza hit a long hop to midwicket to bring up his century. Zimbabwe were finally threatening to pick up the pace but Richard Ngarawa tried to put them behind again when he fired wide to the Slave straight.

It was the 46th over when the game finally unraveled for Zimbabwe. Akram’s over contained six wides, a no-ball, two fours and a six, resulting in 23 runs and Pakistan suddenly set their sights on 300. Even Blessing Muzarabani was not spared, conceding 24 runs in his last two overs as Pakistan took the over. 300 points, took all the momentum with them into the break.

Pakistan had to wait only till the third over to strike, which it did twice in Ayub’s overs. Joylord Gambi and Myers tore holes in the effort to keep the run rate up, and Zimbabwe adopted the same approach despite wickets falling at regular intervals.

Tadivanashe Marumani did not last long but was aggressive while he lasted and being given out LBW off Abrar Ahmed was unfortunate as the ball was probably going down leg. Sean Williams picked up the run-scoring baton, attacking Agha Salman and Abrar after the end of the first powerplay, while Erwin hit two fours off Haris Rauf in what emerged as a dangerous partnership for Pakistan.

But, like every Zimbabwean partnership, it ended so quickly that they did not get a chance to exert any real pressure. Williams was met by Harris’ extra pace as he cut in, and this would mark the beginning of Zimbabwe’s slide.

Pakistan’s biggest scare came from the sudden clouds before the 20th over was bowled, but wickets had started falling on the pitch. With Zimbabwe still hitting boundaries in almost every over, Irwin brought up his half-century with an errant sweep off Faisal Akram.

But his end was near. He was relieved when Tayyab Tahir bowled the easiest chance at midwicket, but was not denied by Aamer Jamal, prompting him to pull at a short delivery later in the over. He backed this up by dismissing Raza in his next over, with Zimbabwe looking on the verge of a major defeat.

Those embarrassments were somewhat saved by an entertaining attack from Bennett, who took on the spinners with great success in an exciting cameo that kept Bulawayo loyal. However, this was not to last, and when he missed Abrar Ahmed after scoring 37 runs from 27 balls, any real hopes for the hosts were gone.

Clive Madande and Ngarwa battled for a while to ensure Zimbabwe got past 200 and restricted the defeat to two points. But Pakistan would not be denied an emphatic win, with Faisal Akram and Rauf dismissing the last two consecutive balls on either side of the 40th over to make the win official.

Daniel Rasool is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent. @danny61000

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